The ongoing five-match T20I series between New Zealand and Pakistan has taken an exciting turn as Pakistan managed to stay alive in the series with a commanding 9-wicket victory in the third match. With the series now 2-1 in favour of New Zealand, both teams will look to push for dominance when they square off in the fourth T20I match on Sunday at Bay Oval. Pakistan’s comeback in the third T20I was a testament to their skills and resilience.
Their stunning victory in the third T20I has rejuvenated their hopes of levelling the series. The match saw a remarkable performance by opener Hassan Nawaz, whose explosive century played a pivotal role in guiding Pakistan to a thrilling chase. Needing 205 runs to win, Pakistan achieved the target with ease, with Hassan firing a maiden T20I ton. His masterclass strokeplay, including a flurry of sixes and boundaries, helped Pakistan remain alive in the series.
New Zealand, on the other hand, have been in impressive form throughout the series. With two victories already under their belt, the Black Caps have shown their potential in T20 format. Their solid batting lineup has made the task difficult for Pakistan. New Zealand's bowlers, too, have been in good rhythm, with pacers and spinners bowling in tandem. Heading into the fourth T20I, they will look to bounce back and seal the series with a win, but Pakistan will be determined to not go down without a fight.
Head to head
Matches - 47
NZ Won - 21
PAK Won - 24
NR - 2
NZ Probable XI: Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Will O’Rourke, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears
PAK Probable XI: Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Agha (c), Irfan Khan, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad, Shaheen Afridi, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf